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Promotion Interviews




Promotion interviews were intimidating incidents in the Government Agencies  I had worked in. 


It became more so when one talked to experienced officers in the Department. Some come adorned with necktie and full suits. Others just wore ties. When I asked a senior colleague whether a coat was necessary for an interview for  promotion from Grade 3 to Grade 2 he retorted in his usual poetic style - From 3 to 2 a tie will do. He was right as I found even the interviewers did not adorn suits. 


The next question to ask is “what are they focusing on”. This is a trick question as no two interviews are the same. I remember I had to learn the full name of the State ruler and also the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for an interview which never did focus on trivialities. This happens at recruitment exercises for civil servants. My experience is that when the Panel is comprised of retired civil servants they lack the professionalism to ask relevant questions. It would seem as though they were there for the daily allowance that was provided for representing the Public Services Department - as they generally lacked the skills and knowledge  required by the demands of the job. Year in year out you would find these senior guys present at interviews. Fortunately their numbers were few. Sometimes it made me wonder if they were there because the panel that appointed them had comprised these very officers and they were there as a reward for their past favours.


I remember my first interview for entry to the public service. It was just after our independence and we were towards the last phase of the Malayanisation. lt went something like this. “What’s your name?What’s your age?“ in rapid succession, followed by “We will let you know.”  That ended the interview and my chance  of entering the public service at that time. I was in Form Two and was just trying my luck. If I had been selected then I would have been in a quandary. I was just enjoying school life, not short of pocket money as I was earning enough, marking essay books for a tuition centre and would have had a tough time making a decision. 


Another interview I failed in because of my ignorance, was that as a reporter for a radio station. I was asked “You know Alor Setar and Batu Gajah, where is Alor Gajah”. For the life of me I had not heard of this town. I was familiar with most towns on the west coast of Malaya but Alor Gajah got me stumped. I took a silly guess and said “near Alor Setar” You can guess now, why I did not have a career with the radio station…


All contents (c) Ganapathy Ramasamy, mynameisgana@blogspot.com


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